associationism

American  

[uh-soh-see-ey-shuh-niz-uhm, -shee-ey-] / əˌsoʊ siˈeɪ ʃəˌnɪz əm, -ʃiˈeɪ- /

noun

1. Psychology. any of several theories that explain complex psychological phenomena as being built up from the association of simple sensations, stimuli and responses, or other behavioral or mental elements considered as primary.

---

associationism British  

/ əˌsəʊsɪˈeɪʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. psychol a theory that all mental activity is based on connections between basic mental events, such as sensations and feelings

---

Other Word Forms

• associationist
  adjective
• associationistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of associationism

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; association + -ism

Example Sentences

In his teens Mill was an able debater and writer for the quarterlies, and devoted to the propagation of the theories of Bentham, Ricardo, and associationism.

From Youth: Its Education, Regimen, and Hygiene by Hall, G. Stanley

This notion that associationism leads away from the work of art as such is a perceptive comment.

From An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Taste, and of the Origin of our Ideas of Beauty, etc. by Clifford, James L.

The antithesis is also misinterpreted, or at least wrongly narrowed, if it is called voluntarism versus associationism.

From Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1 Containing Sixteen Experimental Investigations from the Harvard Psychological Laboratory. by Münsterberg, Hugo

By his development of the doctrine of apperception he took psychology forever beyond the old associationism which had ceased to be fruitful.

From A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Freud, Sigmund

The insufficiency of associationism disappears if the content of consciousness is considered as variable not only as to quality and intensity but also as to vividness.

From Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1 Containing Sixteen Experimental Investigations from the Harvard Psychological Laboratory. by Münsterberg, Hugo